This Is Us - Season 4

[ProudTVJunkie]

Did anyone else watch the season premiere of This Is Us?

There were a lot of new faces, many of whom I liked but having them thrust upon us all at once while getting so little time with the core characters was a little disconcerting.

What did you think of all the new twist?

[nathanfan1]

I eagerly watched and I actually was captivated because I knew that all of these new strangers would somehow end up impacting the main cast. It was like a mystery unfolding and I couldn't wait until the final reveal! I will say though, that it tested my patience at times. The final segment when the connections became evident, was a great payoff for me. In fact I even shrieked at one of them. My husband was in another room and he came out to see what was going on.

I'll go ahead and get specific since it already aired but if anyone reading this doesn't want to be spoiled, STOP NOW!

This premier reminded me of the very first pilot episode in that the reveals throughout the show were all wonderful. I really was talking to myself out loud all hour long! First off, with the young Jack and Rebecca, I was gobsmacked when Jack went into the men's clothing store and Miguel was the clerk! Miguel's kindness and understanding of Jack's situation was undoubtedly what lead to them becoming the best of friends and it was also ironic that Jack was telling Miguel what an amazing woman he was doing this for since we know that both men end up married to her. I was also taken by the scenes at the country club. I was surprised that Jack was honest in telling them about his family and the war. It was an incredible speech and I loved it. After dinner, I really thought Jack had won over Rebecca's dad and was shocked when he so calmly told Jack he'd do everything he could to prevent Jack and Rebecca from being together. WOW!

I adored the story of the young man and his mom and dad and was shocked that the baby was his. Of course, I presumed he was on his phone gaming or watching You Tube videos and then my heart about burst when I saw he was watching his daughter in her crib. Loved what his dad did and said to him in the truck and was happy to see that there might be something coming between he and Deja.

Probably the most confusing segment had to do with the military wife. Sadly, I'm sure her story is all too realistic and I hurt for the brave people who serve in our armed forces. I was shocked that her connection will be through Nicky because it implies to me that he will be a much bigger part of the Pearson story this season than I expected.I have no idea how this one will play out.

The story line of the blind young man was touching as he found a connection with the waitress. NEVER in a million years would I have guessed who he was! When that became apparent, I shrieked and my husband came running! That is truly going to be quite the story line as we watch Kate and Toby raise him. The song he sang at the end was wonderful and definitely had me choked up.

I have never been so impressed with a story creator as I am with Fogelman. I don't believe anything is simply dreamed up to try to put an episode out there. Every story line has been carefully crafted and the way he has it unfold is beyond amazing IMO. I know he has planned 6 seasons and that's it. I appreciate that and can't wait to see where this second half of the story takes us.

[ProudTVJunkie]

I liked the dinner scene but it didn’t surprise me that Rebecca’s father was anti-Jack. Things were going a little too well and I figured there had to be an obstacle. And from Jack’s point of view, it’s always better to know who your enemies are.

I also enjoyed the teenaged father and watching him struggle to find the right road. He and his daughter were very sweet together and I’m looking forward to him interacting with Randall.

I loved Jennifer Morrison as Cassidy. I found her story the most powerful and the one that left me with the most questions. I’m wondering if she’s going to end up meeting Kevin through Nicky, but she and Kevin seem like vastly different personalities so I’m curious to see where that might go.

I’ll admit that I saw a spoiler about Jack being blind so I wasn’t as shocked as most when that connection was made. But I love how the musical thread has continued from Rebecca to Kate to Jack.

And I completely agree with nathanfan1 about the show creator. Some shows have a great pilot and concept but lose the magic along the way. Dan Fogelman seems to have a clear, well-thought out vision for every season and every character and it makes me look forward to more.

[nathanfan1]

PTVJ, I like your idea that the military woman may connect with Kevin through Nicky. After all, Nicky did contact Kevin about bail money and we already know that Kevin ends up with a son. Hmmmmm, interesting!

[ProudTVJunkie]

So did anyone watch the second episode of This Is Us?

A lot of people thought Randall was overreacting with Deja on the bus, but I don't. I think he reacted like a father. Is Kate as much in control as she seems?

What did you think about not seeing very much of the new characters this week?

And will Toby's secret weightloss be a problem between he and Kate?

[nathanfan1]

I saw the show and was kind of meh about it. After the intrigue of the premier, this one didn't have any particular story line that grabbed me. I felt they used way too much of the old pool footage. I do think Kate is in pretty good control and her drive to raise little Jack with no boundaries will carry her through. However, I can't help but believe there will be some issues between she and Toby. 

I agree that Randall had every right to be that protective but I'm also glad that he and Deja reached a compromise.

I would have liked to have seen some continuation of the new characters.

[tycho657]

I wrote a long response to episode 2 but I’m camping and the tree elves must have taken it. Oh well I’m not writing it again.

[ProudTVJunkie]

Not really a spoiler as it's more of a question than an answer...

Question: I need to know who that was in Randall’s kitchen in this week’s This Is Us!—Patricia

Ausiello: Crazy, right? Though I’ve been bound to secrecy, I can let this little tidbit slip: That scary moment from the midseason premiere pales in comparison to the shocking way a character we know and love reacts to something that happens in the next episode.


tvline.com/2020/01/15/this-is-us-season-4-spoilers-trilogy-randall/

[nathanfan1]

Interesting tidbit! I was trying to decide if it was a real person in the kitchen of just Randall's imagination. 

I saw Kevin's surprise coming long before it was revealed. I do hope he finds someone though.

As much as I hate to see Kate and Toby having issues, I do appreciate the way both characters have faced the issue and are being honest with each other. 

This is sure an interesting road they've chosen to have Rebecca go down.

[ProudTVJunkie]

Jan 16, 2020 22:10:03 GMT -5 nathanfan1 said:

Interesting tidbit! I was trying to decide if it was a real person in the kitchen of just Randall's imagination. 

I saw Kevin's surprise coming long before it was revealed. I do hope he finds someone though.

As much as I hate to see Kate and Toby having issues, I do appreciate the way both characters have faced the issue and are being honest with each other. 

This is sure an interesting road they've chosen to have Rebecca go down.

I'm hoping the man in the kitchen is just Randall's nightmare and his subconscious giving him a monster e can fight because he feels helpless to save his mother. If that's a real guy in his house then that's really scary!

I really liked Toby and Kate's conversations. I liked that she chose to believe him about the woman on the text message. Also, I think Toby's feelings about baby Jack are very normal but he's kept it to himself so as not to rob Kate of her joy.

I wanted to hug Miguel when they got the diagnosis. He feels like he let Rebecca down but it's difficult to see the gradual progression when you're with someone every day and it's much easier to rationalize the changes. In my opinion, it's actually much easier to see the early signs of cognitive issues when you haven't seen someone for weeks or months.

[tycho657]

This is something we all face with aging parents. Both of my parents died of Alzheimer’s. I am so afraid I will have it too. That is one of the reasons I stay so active rather than sit around waiting for it to hit.

[ProudTVJunkie]

I'm curious as to what other's thought about Toby and Kate in this week's This Is Us.

I felt that Kate wasn't being fair to Toby because he wasn't dealing with Jack's blindness in the same way she was but someone I was speaking with felt that Toby was daydreaming about a future that could never happen and needed to accept Jack the way he is now. They felt that Toby saying "I want to" when Kate asked if he could be the husband and father she needed wasn't enough and made it sound like he was going to leave both of them.

I'd love to get someone else's take on this.

[nathanfan1]

First of all, let me just say that this whole story line breaks my heart because I do love Toby and Kate as a a couple. I give the show a lot of credit though, for being realistic in their portrayal of the struggle to deal with a child with special needs. People deal with it in so many ways.

I do feel Kate has been really self absorbed with Jack. I get that she's a stay-at-home mom and all but she seems to be making all of the decisions regarding the baby and is not making much of an attempt to bring Toby in to a full fledged parent role. It's like she feels she knows what's best and has blinders on to what Toby needs in order to overcome his distance from Jack. What I heard Toby saying was that he wanted to be the husband and father Kate and Jack need, but right now, he just doesn't know how to deal with his issues. I saw it as a cry for help. 

As tough as it was to watch, I took a lot of heart in the last bit when Toby insisted that he take care of Jack while Kate went to the cabin and Kate gave in and said yes. Toby's had so little time with Jack and has no real idea of how much they can connect despite Jack's lack of sight. Toby needs to bond with his son.